The following is taken from an article from the February 1926 Banner Bulletin of Brownwood Texas.

The Story of Lottie Collins by Henry C. Fuller

The village of Dulin, in Brown County, in named in memory and honor of a pioneer family - the Dulin family which consisted of Thomas S. Dulin and his wife (Salira Epperson) who came to Brown County and settled in the early days. Thomas S. Dulin was born in Ohio. He died in his home in Dulin, September 8, 1892, victim of an accident that overtook him while riding over his pasture looking after his cattle, of which he had a large number. It seems that while riding at a rapid gait the horse stumbled and fell, catching Dulin under the saddle and fatally injuring him. He left a widow and an adopted daughter, Lottie Elizabeth Dulin, now Mrs Edward L. Dixon, of Brownwood. The events that led to the adoption of Lottie Collins is most interesting and is therefore the central part of this story. In his early manhood Thomas S. Dulin moved to Kentucky and there met and fell in love with Miss Salira Epperson. In love at first sight the couple married in due time. Hardly had their honeymoon closed when they set out in search of their Golden Fleece, which they felt was somewhere out west. There travels brought them at length to what is now Brown County and they located in the vicinity of the Winchell is now situated. Land was easily obtained and in time the Dulin's became owneres of a considerable tract. Being industrious pioneers, they felt the locality was good enough to live in.....and die in. And so there they made their home. There was only one shadow of regret in that home in the western wilderness and that was - as the years passed - no children came to bless it. Nowhere was there heard the prattle of children's voices, or the pit-a-pat of children's feet and the mother heart of Mrs. Dulin and parental affection and sympathy of Mr. Dulin was not satisfied. One day a stranger came to their door and asked for permission to take a brief rest, as he had been traveling and was very weary. Permission was of course given in that wholehearted and generous way, so expressive of the western spirit of the old days. The rest of a few days became permanant when the man whose name was Henry Knighton Fields, entered into an agreement with Mr. Dulin to remain with him and accept such tasks as came naturally in the conduct of the place. This connection grew into the warmest friendship between Fields and his hosts and in time he came to know their disappointment. Mr. Dulin told Fields that he and the Mrs. would be glad to adopt and heir, preferably a little girl, if one could be found wholly worthy and without relatives and to such a child they would leave all their earthly belongings. Fields studied the matter over and told the Dulins that he knew of just such child as they would like to have but that she lived beyond the sea - in an orphanage at Portsea, near Portsmouth, England, and that this child, then 7 years old, was the ward of his sister, Mary Fields, of the orphanage nusing staff. Mr. Dulin requested Fields go and "bring that little girl to us" and that he would "gladly pay your way to Portsea and return, and all expenses necessary" to bring the little girl back. The name of that 7 year old little girl was Lottie Collins. Lottie was brought to the orphanage by her mother when two years old, who simply stated that the father of the baby was dead and the mother could not take proper care of her. The child was placed as a charge of Mary Fields and from time-to-time her mother came to see her and then - in time - to return no more. Henry Knighton Fields entered at once on his great adventure. He went to Portsea and after much persuaion suceeded in obtaining permission to bring Lottie Collins to America. He and Lottie sailed from England on the good ship "Queen" on July 7, 1884, taking three weeks to reach New York where they spent several days before departing on the her new home in the west. Mr. and Mrs. Dulin were overjoyed. They lavished everything in the way of love and affection on Lottie and in returen Lottie was an affectionate and loving daughter. Under their care and guidance she grew rapidly into splendid girlhood and when fiftenn years old (17 actually) married Edward Lee Dixon, member of another pioneering family of Brown County. Lottie was educated by the Dulin's and given every advantage. Mrs. Dixon is still a young woman, and in her delightful home in Brownwood with her husband and children, she sometimes talks of the days of her childhood beyond the seas and in her memory there live now the picture of a elderly man, a bundle of clothes under his arm, leading a little girl by the hand as the two wave goodbye to a gentle woman, Mary Fields, who conceals her tears with her hand and closes the door of the orphanage which to Lottie had been home for five years. For many years Lottie kept up correspondence with Mary Fields but it has now been quite a while since any work came from this friend over the seas. Henry Knighton Fields left the Dulin home many years ago and no tidings ever came back from him.